Professional dancers teach master classes to Archer Dance Company, Troupe

By Maya Wernick, Voices Editor|September 19, 2017

Photo credit: Cybele Zhang

Meagan Rowles ’18 (front left) and Cameron Thompson ’18 (front right) stretch at the beginning of their first session with Jacob Guzman from “Hamilton.” The upper school girls learned a dance to the song “The Room Where It Happened.”

Grab your tutu and a bayonet!

On Saturday, Sep. 16, Archer hosted two dance master classes, featuring three professionals. Los Angeles cast members Karli Dinardo and Jacob Guzman from the Broadway show “Hamilton” gave the morning master class, teaching Archer students actual choreography from two “Hamilton” songs.

Theresa Farrell, the executive director of and dancer at the American Contemporary Ballet Company, taught the afternoon session on classical ballet.

“It was a big deal for these people to come out [to Archer] even with their busy schedules, especially since they are still doing eight shows a week with rehearsals on top of that,” Head Dance Captain Sophie Goldberg ’18 said.

Archer girls in both the middle and upper school also participated in bonding activities and took part in a Q&A session after both classes.

Below is a photo gallery with pictures from all parts of the day.

  • Jacob Guzman demonstrates some of the actual choreography from the musical “Hamilton.” Despite preforming in eight shows a week, Guzman took time out of his schedule to teach Archer upper school girls.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
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  • Members of Archer Dance Companies and Troupe pose with Theresa Farrell, the executive director of the American Contemporary Ballet. Farrell led a ballet class and hosted a Q&A.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
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  • Jael Ellman ’18 (left), Chloe Weisberg ’18 (middle) and Meagan Rowles ’18 (right) pose while learning choreography from Jacob Guzman from “Hamilton.” “Hamilton” is currently being performed in Los Angeles at the Pantages Theater until December 30.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
    '

  • Dance teacher Andrea Locke (center) poses for a selfie with Karli Dinardo and Jacob Guzman from “Hamilton”. Locke’s daughter Jennifer Locke will be in Hamilton later this month at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
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  • Guzman dances through the “Hamilton” choreography during his master class with Archer upper school dancers. Guzman, a Broadway veteran, currently is a swing in Hamilton.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
    '
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